Mushroom, Leek and Cashew Nut Risotto
I love mushroom risotto and I love leeks and cashews however the only risotto recipe I had with these ingredients was with brown rice, boiled in a pot. I prefer the traditional method of cooking risotto and with arborio rice so I used that recipe as a guide, along with another mushroom risotto recipe I had and it is delicious. (Believe it or not, the first time I cooked this recipe I forgot to add the cashews - after all that! Anyway, it still tasted great even without the cashews, but is better with them.) Use the best quality stock you can as with any risotto, the quality of stock makes a huge difference. Preferably, make your own using one of the many chicken stock recipes on 'Zaar as a guide. (It should be a criminal offence to throw away a chicken carcass I reckon!) Alternatively, Campbell's "Real Stock" from the shop is very good.
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- 2cups sliced mushrooms (about 375 gms)
- 1tablespoon lemon juice
- 6tablespoons butter
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 1
- 2cups arborio rice
- 1cup dry white wine
- 4cups chicken stock, hot
- 1⁄2
- 1⁄2
DIRECTIONS
- Toss the fresh mushrooms with the lemon juice. In a large, heavy based pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter, stir in the mushrooms and cook over moderate heat until they begin to brown. Add the parsley and basil (if using) and cook for 30 seconds more, then remove and set aside.
- Heat another 2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil in the same pan in which the mushrooms were cooked. Stir in the sliced leeks and garlic and cook until soft, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the rice, stirring to coat all the grains until they start to swell and burst - about 2 minutes. Add the sauteed mushrooms and mix well.
- Pour in the wine and cook over moderate to low heat until it is absorbed.
- Add half a cup of the hot stock and stir frequently to prevent sticking while the rice absorbs the liquid.
- Keep adding stock in this way, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- Just as the final liquid is being absorbed and the rice is cooked (about 20 minutes) remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, the parmesan cheese and the cashew nuts. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste (and salt, if you must) and serve. Garnish with some freshly grated parmesan, if you like.